Once
upon a time, there was a Quail King who reigned over a
flock of a thousand quails.

There
was also a very clever quail hunter. He knew how to make
a quail call. Because this sounded just like a real quail
crying for help, it never failed to attract other quails.
Then the hunter covered them with a net, stuffed them
in baskets, and sold them to make a living.

Because
he always put the safety of his flock first. Quail King
was highly respected by all. While on the lookout for
danger, one day he came across the hunter and saw what
he did. He thought, "This quail hunter has a good
plan for destroying our relatives. I must make a better
plan to save us."

Then
he called together his whole nation of a thousand quails.
He also invited other quails to attend the meeting. He
said, "Greetings to our quail nation and welcome
to our visitors. We are faced with great danger. Many
of our relatives are being trapped and sold by a clever
hunter. Then they are being killed and eaten. I have come
up with a plan to save us all. When the hunter covers
us with his net, every single one of us must raise his
neck at the same time. Then, all together, we should fly
away with the net and drop it on a thorn bush. That will
keep him busy, and we will be able to escape with our
lives." All agreed to follow this smart strategy.

The
next day the hunter lured the quails with his quail call
as usual. But when he threw his net over them, they all
raised up their necks at once, flew away with the net,
and dropped it on a thorn bush. He could catch no quails
at all! In addition, it took him the rest of the day to
loosen his net from the thorns - so he had no time left
to try again!

The
same thing happened on the following day. So he spent
a second day unhooking his net from sharp thorns. He arrived
home only to be greeted by his wife's sharp tongue! She
complained, "You used to bring home quail to eat,
and money from selling quails. Now you return empty-handed.
What do you do all day? You must have another wife somewhere,
who is feasting on quail meat at this very moment!"

The
hunter replied, "Don't think such a thing, my darling.
These days the quails have become very unified. They act
as one, and raise up their necks and carry my net to a
thorn bush. But thanks to you, my one and only wife, I
know just what to do! Just as you argue with me, one day
they too will argue, as relatives usually do. While they
are occupied in conflict and bickering, I will trap them
and bring them back to you. Then you will be pleased with
me again. Until then, I must be patient."

The
hunter had to put up with his wife's complaints for several
more days. Then one morning after being lured by the quail
call, it just so happened that one quail accidentally
stepped on the head of another. He immediately got angry
and squawked at her. She removed her foot from his head
and said, "Please don't be angry with me. Please
excuse my mistake." But he would not listen. Soon
both of them were squawking and squawking, and the conflict
got worse and worse!

Hearing
this bickering getting louder and louder, Quail King said,
"There is no advantage in conflict. Continuing it
will lead to danger!" But they just wouldn't listen.

Then
Quail King thought, "I'm afraid this silly conflict
will keep them from cooperating to raise the net."
So he commanded that all should escape. His own flock
flew away at once.

And
it was just in time too! Suddenly the quail hunter threw
his net over the remaining quails. The two arguing quails
said to each other, "I won't hold the net for you."
Hearing this, even some of the other quails said, "Why
should I hold the net for anyone else?"

So
the conflict spread like wildfire. The hunter grabbed
all the quails, stuffed them in his baskets, and took
them home to his wife. Of course she was overjoyed, and
they invited all their friends over for a big quail feast.